Losing My Grasp…and Finding My Way Back

Louisa Elms
Nov 2 · 5 min read

From age nineteen to twenty five, I struggled to maintain a grasp on reality, fighting through nuclear explosions in my mind. Within those years, I was hospitalized three times for “psychosis,” which I use interchangeably with “extreme state.” There were a few occasions I was nearly admitted, but I managed to dissuade my devoted family right outside those big, slamming hospital doors. I was out of my mind, way too far in it, dreaming while awake, severely sleep deprived and starving. I was having existential crises and ecstatic spiritual awakenings, digesting truths and falling prey to a…

Keep the story going. Sign up for an extra free read.

You've completed your member preview for this month, but when you sign up for a free Medium account, you get one more story.
Already have an account? Sign in

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade